Sara F's story

Sara found she could overcome her anxiety and help others to do the same.

Facing Struggles

In 2020, Sara from Ammanford was working in the hospitality industry.

Although she loved the hustle and bustle that comes with bar work, she didn’t always find it easy - especially since she suffered with health problems that affected her lungs.

She powered through in the industry for as long as she could until her health became more of a problem.

She explained: "I was really suffering with my breathing, which meant the bar work I was doing became so much harder."

On top of her physical health problems, Sara was struggling with anxiety. She eventually had to leave her job - right at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Something new

With lockdown meaning Sara's options in the hospitality industry were limited, she was a little lost on where to turn next.

However, with the help of Working Wales, a Welsh Government service delivered by Careers Wales, Sara reviewed her options and applied for a grant to turn her hand to a new skill.

She said: "I did the yoga teacher training course with the Welsh Government grant. There weren't really many other yoga teachers in my local area when I started, but I'm taking classes in a wellness centre, Hazbeanz, in Ammaford that opened during the pandemic and taught classes online, which moved to in-person when lockdown ended.

"I love it - I feel like yoga is really soothing, especially with the way things were during the pandemic.

"A lot of people were - and still are - really anxious, and my yoga classes can really help with this, as well as meditation and mindfulness."

Having suffered with anxiety herself, she was able to use her own experiences in her teaching, helping others to stretch and breathe their way to better mental health.

So many opportunities

But Sara didn’t just stop once she became a qualified yoga teacher.

She said: "Carmarthen Council has approached me and asked if I would be interested in doing a course in children's yoga, which I think will be amazing.

"In the future I really want to travel somewhere with yoga, or maybe go on a retreat."

She has also completed courses in sports massage and Reiki and has been working in Carmarthen CFK gym doing personal training since May 2020.

Her job now allows her to choose when she wants to work, meaning more flexibility and downtime when she needs it.

Sara said: "If you've got the opportunity to do a course, do it - it changed my life and mindset completely."

If you’re aged 16 or over and would like to explore your opportunities with a careers adviser, please contact the Working Wales team by calling free on 0800 028 4844, emailing workingwales@careerswales.gov.wales or through our live chat.

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